Here are my thoughts: I know! The worst thing Rory and I did when we were getting ready to register was taking a blind trip to a behemoth NYC department store. About a third of the way through the Formal China section, we both started to look a little pale and decided to hightail it to the nearest bar. A few cocktails deep we thought we'd try our hand at a kitchen specialty store, where the registry guide suggested we'd need eight different saucepans.

Something else that'll make your head spin: Looking at the registry checklist in a bridal mag. Do you really need a cake server and a gravy boat and a bed skirt? (Probably not.)

Yes, creating a registry can make you want to bury your head in the sand, but I still think it's important. Here's why:

It's easier for you. If you don't tell people what you want, they're going to buy stuff they like. And chances are you don't want six dinner plates from your great aunt, four others (in a different pattern) from your college roommate, and eight more (hand painted!) from the mother of the groom's sorority sister. If people buy off your registry, you can easily return and exchange items. If people buy from random stores, you're generally stuck with the gifts.

__It's easier for your guests.__Telling people exactly what you want feels a little greedy, I know. Still, your guests probably don't want to guess your taste or what you need. Keep in mind that your guests don't have to buy off your registry. Some will want to give cash and others will want to pick out something on their own. But a registry is great for everyone else to fall back on.

Some general tips:

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Visit the stores where you're considering registering ...__ We fell in love with a set of dishes online, but when we saw them in person, they seemed cheap. Yes, we could have returned them, but we saved ourselves the hassle.

__... then register online.__This seems anti-climactic if you (or, more likely, your groom) have been looking forward to wielding the beeping scanner gun. But it's much easier to keep track of your registry (or multiple registries) in a Web browser than in person.

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Choose three stores to register with—not more ...__ Of course there are merits to having eight different registries, but you want your guests to be able to buy your gift from one store. If they have to choose elements from three different registries, they'll have to pay for shipping three times. Plus, it'll look funny if your shower invite says, "The couple is registered at Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel, Williams-Sonoma, Bloomingdales, Tiffany & Co., CB2, Bed Bath & Beyond, and JcPenney."

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... and make sure at least one is a store most of your guests can shop in person. __Not everyone shops online. (Crazy, I know.) And some guests will want to see what they're buying. So pick a nationwide department store (like Macy's) or discount store (like Target).

__Register for the stuff you really want.__If you and your guy love to cook and really want the fancy pots and pans, don't register for something cheaper out of guilt. People aren't going to spend more than they want to; if they think $135 is too much to spend on a frying pan, they'll buy you something else.

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__Pick things in a variety of price ranges.__Some guests will want to buy you a $100 comforter and be done with it. Others would rather pick and choose smaller items, like a $20 shower curtain, a $50 sheet set, and $30 worth of kitchen utensils. Make sure there's something on there for everyone to buy.

Keep your lifestyle in mind. Rory and I didn't want formal china or silver. We live in New York City, where we barely have space to store the stuff we actually use. Plus, between our two families, there are four children and approximately nine sets of china and five sets of silver. If the day comes when we want the fancy-pants stuff, hopefully our parents will be feeling generous.

When you've settled on your tableware, request 12 of everything. You might not want to host a dinner for 12, but you probably will break a bowl here and a wineglass there, and it'll be nice to have enough stuff to serve six or eight down the road.

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If you're worried you might get bored with a pattern, use it just for your accent pieces.__ You could ask for all-white everyday dishes (here's our super-simple set), for example, and then get funky salad or dessert plates (these are cute!). If you're not using them day in and day out, you're less likely to get sick of them.

Hold off on choosing your linens. Sheet and towel styles tend to change every six months, so if you register for something now but you're not getting married 'til October, chances are it won't be in stock. A good time to pick linens: right before your shower, which will likely be two or three months before your wedding.

__Remember, you can always to do a practice round.__If you'd like to futz around with different registries before making anything official, register using fake names. If you decide you like one of your test-drive registries, you can easily change the names.

Were you guys overwhelmed by registering, too? Do you have any more helpful registry tips? Which stores did you register at? Were there any stores you had a great experience with? Or are there any you wish you'd skipped?